TIRRA Regular Meeting ~ Thursday, June 19th

Forbes Hall 7PM

Basic agenda includes: 

- committee reports

- treasurer update

- ferries update

- on going Islands Trust re Easton Vance letter

- solid waste update

- voting on bylaw change to give all property owners voting privileges on matters relating to the spending of solid waste parcel tax funds

Ernie Hunter

250-252-0144

thetis@island.net

July 12 Information Meeting for Proposed Burchell Hill Nature Reserve

It is with great pleasure that the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy (ThINC) announces the proposed Nature Reserve Project on Burchell Hill is a GO. An agreement has been reached to purchase 40 acres of Lot 1 Lower Burchell Hill (also known as Thetis Island Lot 320A). We have until the spring of 2017 to raise the required funds. ThINC will be holding an information session on Saturday July 12 from 3 to 5 pm 

at Forbes Hall to explain the details of the agreement and provide information about our fundraising plans. We welcome fundraising ideas from the community.

We would like to thank all of you who pledged early and have been patiently waiting as we negotiated this agreement, which resulted in a substantial reduction in purchase price. We look forward to presenting all the details of this wonderful opportunity to you and to the greater community of Thetis. Come out and find out what it is all about!

The ThINC Board of Directors: Stephanie Cottell, Ann Eriksson, Suzanne Sarioglu, Janice Young, Maureen Loiselle, Roger Hart, and Vicki Walker.

Temporary Youth Employment Opportunity

The Thetis Island Nature Conservancy (ThINC) is looking for a fun-loving, active youth between the ages of 16-19 to assist with our first summer nature day camp.

The program is scheduled to run from Monday July 7 – Friday July 11^th at a variety of locations on the island. The hours are12:30-4:30 Monday – Thursday, 9:00-1:00 on the Friday.  We are offering $12/hr for this position.  Enthusiasm is a must for this job! 

For more information, please contact Vicki Walker by June 17^that 250-246-9126. 

Nature Day-Camp ~ July 7 - 11

Are you going into Grade 3, 4, 5 or 6?

ThINC (Thetis Island Nature Conservancy)

Invites YOU to join our

Summer Nature Camp!

July 7th to 10th  1:00 - 4:00

July 11th 9:30 - 12:30

Exploring, Creating, Learning & Playing!

$25 for the week - MUST register by Tuesday, June 17th

Contact Vicki Walker

 250-246-9126

Fathers Day's Brunch at Telegraph Harbour Bistro

Click on image to view menu.

Wanted ~ Person to do Yard Work

Wanted ~ some person to do General Yard Work, such as grass cutting,etc

Please phone Pat or Val Brown at 250-246-1023

Domain Jasmin Vineyard and Winery Open

Tasting room and wine sales open 12-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Come by and check out the vineyard as it leaps into form with all the heat we've been getting.

 

Denis & Coleen

250 246 9494

New Invasive Pest on Thetis

It looks like the European Fire Ant has made its way to Thetis Island.  Last year we discovered a nest of what looked like red and black ants near our woodshed.  My husband discovered them when he felt bites and looked down at his legs to find them all over his pants.  This year, while thinning apples in a tree, I was bitten by several ants and discovered them all throughout the tree.  

We do not have a definitive identification, but everything seems to indicate that this is what we’re dealing with. We know that they are definitely on Vancouver Island, arriving in potting soil, nursery plants, etc.  When we went to Shar-Kare today to get ant killer to deal with them, the employees told us that they’ve been instructed to inspect all plants carefully to look for European Fire Ants.  According to what I’ve managed to find out about how to get rid of them, sprays, etc. do not work and are not what we really want to use on our property in any event.  The best control seems to be with using ant bait with at least 2% boric acid.  It’s important not to let these ants spread as apparently there are whole parks in the Eastern U.S. which have been closed to the public because of these swarming, biting ants.  

If you think you might have them on your property, act now.  I bought a bottle of ant bait and dripped some on the bark of the apple tree they were infesting.  Within a short period of time, all of the droplets were covered with ants.  They carry the liquid back to feed the nest and in this way, you get the whole population.  Whatever you use, make sure you read the directions carefully.  Ant killer with boric acid as the active ingredient must not be placed where any domestic animals can have contact with it and it must not come in contact with any food sources.  

If you want to know more about the European Fire Ant, here is a bulletin put out by the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia - http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/invasivespecies/Publications/European_Fire_Ants_in_BC.pdf.  It contains instruction on how to collect specimens for identification - which we will do so we can positively identify our ant.

Pat English

Cooks Needed for Seniors Dinners

We are looking for any cooks who may be keen to cook for our monthly Seniors' Dinners.  You must have a FoodSafe 2 certificate and some experience in preparing dinner for a group of 25 to 40 people.

Even if you are available or interested in just 1 or 2  times during the September '14 to May '15 season, why not consider this opportunity.

To learn more, please direct all interest and inquiries to Donna Stadt,

 250-246-3141 or donnastadt@gmail.com

Furnished Rental Needed

Furnished rental wanted June 16 or 17 for 2 weeks

I have friends who are moving back to BC from Alberta. They are considering living on Thetis Island & need a place to rent for a couple of weeks to check it out. They have three children between the ages 3 to 12.

Your help & consideration is appreciated.

With gratitude,

Sherri

sapepin@hotmail.com

Open Garden ~ Pardees

Everyone is cordially invited to our open garden June 28 and 29th.

Anyone with mobility issues is welcome to enjoy a guided tour on our golf cart, just let us know. While there have not been major changes in our gardens, there has been lots of growth and filling in.

The roses should be in full blossom along with clematis and poppies etc. 

Please come any time between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4:00 pm. Bring your friends and family but no dogs please.

Sieka and Peter

Mainroad Information

Regarding the spray patching on Thetis roads, drive slowly and please be aware of loose gravel until it is swept off. If you happen to get a few spots on your vehicles, it is water based and comes off well with WD40.

Also paving is scheduled for June 16th & 17th, weather permitting.

thanks from Mainroad